Domestic route
Cheap flights from Washington to San Francisco
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 2,437 miles, 5h 40m nonstop.
DCA to SFO at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 2,437 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 5h 40mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AAUAAS3 airlinesAmerican, United, Alaska
- Nonstop flights per day
- 19all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- February 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Wednesday16% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 3h behindSan Francisco vs Washington
Washington to San Francisco
Round trips from $225
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Feb 9.
Cheapest month: February 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppWashington to San Francisco fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying Washington to San Francisco
3 airlines fly nonstop with 19 departures a day combined, plus 7 more with one stop.
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- MXBreeze AirwaysLow-costConnecting via PVD, CHS, TPA, RDU, BDL, ORF · first checked bag from $45
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, LAX, JFK, BOS, LGA · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DEN, LAS, MCO, PHL, ATL, PHX, CLE · first checked bag from $55
- B6JetBlueConnecting via JFK, BOS, FLL, MCO, LAX · first checked bag from $40
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DAL, HOU, MDW, DEN, LAS, PHX, MCO, ATL, BNA, LAX, SAN, STL, AUS · first checked bag from $35
- NKSpirit AirlinesLow-costConnecting via FLL, LAS, DTW, MCO, DFW, ATL, IAH · first checked bag from $55
- SYSun Country AirlinesLow-costConnecting via MSP · first checked bag from $45
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Atlanta (ATL)DLWNNKF94 airlines
- Orlando (MCO)WNB6NKF94 airlines
- Los Angeles (LAX)DLWNB63 airlines
- Las Vegas (LAS)WNNKF93 airlines
- Minneapolis (MSP)DLSY2 airlines
Which airport should I use?
Washington has 3 airports and San Francisco has 3 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other departure airports near Washington
Tips for this route
- American, United and Alaska all fly DCA to SFO nonstop, so compare the total with bags before picking the lowest base fare: the difference between a basic and a standard economy ticket is often less than one checked bag each way.
- February 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $225; September 2026 is the most expensive at $324 and up, a difference of $99 per traveler.
- Departing on a Wednesday averages 16% less than a Sunday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks.
- San Francisco is 3 hours behind Washington. A morning departure lands in San Francisco with most of the day left; an evening flight arrives close to local dinner time.
Destination guide
San Francisco: Fog, hills and the Golden Gate
San Francisco packs cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and world-class food into 49 square miles. SFO is the main gateway; Oakland and San Jose are handy alternatives with lower fares on many routes.
Best time to visit: September and October are the warmest, clearest months. Spring (April–May) is green and mild. Summer fog ('Karl') keeps the coast cool; winter is rainy but inexpensive.
Flying the other way? San Francisco to WashingtonFares, airlines and tips for SFO to DCA.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on DCA–SFO side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Washington to San FranciscoWashington to San Francisco: common questions
How long is the flight from Washington to San Francisco?
A nonstop flight from Washington (DCA) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 5h 40m gate to gate, covering 2,437 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from DCA to SFO?
American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines operate nonstop flights from Washington (DCA) to San Francisco (SFO), with 19 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through ATL, MCO and LAX.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington to San Francisco?
Over the next six months, February 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Washington (DCA) to San Francisco (SFO), starting at $225 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Wednesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Washington to San Francisco flights?
Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between Washington and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 3 hours behind Washington. DCA is on America/New York time and SFO on America/Los Angeles time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.
More flights from Washington
All routesMore flights to San Francisco
All routes- New York to San FranciscoJFK → SFOfrom $239
- Chicago to San FranciscoORD → SFOfrom $159
- Los Angeles to San FranciscoLAX → SFOfrom $63
- Seattle to San FranciscoSEA → SFOfrom $80
- Honolulu to San FranciscoHNL → SFOfrom $243
- Vancouver to San FranciscoYVR → SFOfrom $107
- London to San FranciscoLHR → SFOfrom $513
- Paris to San FranciscoCDG → SFOfrom $508